Fansided

Best college football running back from every state

ByNicholas Ian Allen|
LOUISIANA, NO - JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs carries the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LOUISIANA, NO - JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs carries the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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SEP 5 1988; Football – Denver Broncos – 1988 – Game 1; Seahawks 21 Broncos 14; Curt Warner; ***** Wks Curt Warner, 28, carries for TD, taking bronco RCB Jeremiah Castille with him.; (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
SEP 5 1988; Football – Denver Broncos – 1988 – Game 1; Seahawks 21 Broncos 14; Curt Warner; ***** Wks Curt Warner, 28, carries for TD, taking bronco RCB Jeremiah Castille with him.; (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

West Virginia

Curt Warner, Penn State Nittany Lions

Not to be confused with the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback with the same but differently-spelled name, Wyoming, West Virginia-born Curt Warner was a standout running back at Penn State from 1979-82.

Warner saw modest playing time as a freshman, and gained 391 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns that season. Always a threat as a receiver out of the backfield, he added 10 receptions for 129 yards and another TD. As a sophomore, Warner led the Penn State squad with 922 rushing yards and six TDs. The Nittany Lions finished 10-2 and ranked No. 8 in the final AP poll. Warner broke the 1,000-yard barrier as a junior, and set a career high with eight rushing touchdowns.

In 1982, Warner helped lead the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record and a national championship. He led the team with 1,041 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground and added 335 receiving yards and five TDs on 24 catches out of the backfield. The solid all-around performance earned Warner a top-10 finish in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Warner’s 3,398 career rushing yards were the most in school history from 1982 to 2010, when Evan Royster broke the record. His 24 rushing touchdowns rank 14th in school history.

After his college career ended, Warner was selected No. 3 overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. In eight NFL seasons, Warner gained 6,844 rushing yards and scored 56 rushing touchdowns – both of which stand as the most ever for a player born in West Virginia.

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